DraftKings Racing Launches in Three States, Expanding Horse Racing Reach to 26

DraftKings Racing pushed into Delaware, New Mexico and Rhode Island, expanding the company's horse racing footprint to 26 states and completing a structural shift that began with a different product name, a different account model and a different standalone app.

The launch brings pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing directly into the DraftKings Sportsbook app for the first time in those three states. Bettors in Delaware, New Mexico and Rhode Island can now access races through the same wallet already connected to their DraftKings account, without signing up separately or funding an independent balance as the product's original design required.

"With Triple Crown season approaching, we're bringing DraftKings Racing to three new states at the perfect time to deliver an unmatched horse racing experience," said Johnny Avello, Director of Race and Sports Operations at DraftKings. "By offering horse racing directly within the DraftKings Sportsbook app, we're making it more convenient for customers to enjoy racing alongside their other favorite sports — all in one place, with one wallet and a more streamlined experience."

The rollout will continue state by state. In the 23 states where the standalone DK Horse app currently operates — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming — DK Horse will remain available until DraftKings Racing is introduced in each jurisdiction, at which point the standalone app will be phased out. The integration also fits within DraftKings' broader plan to launch a super app called "DraftKings Sports & Casino," which will bring Sportsbook, Predictions, Casino and Lottery into one unified platform with access shaped by jurisdiction.

The horse racing product traces directly to a multi-year agreement DraftKings struck with Churchill Downs Incorporated in November 2022. Under that deal, Churchill Downs' subsidiary TwinSpires provides the advance deposit wagering technology, and Churchill Downs supplies pari-mutuel wagering rights to content it owns or controls, explicitly including the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, while also agreeing to secure additional racing content on DraftKings' behalf.

When DraftKings CEO Jason Robins announced that partnership, the product was called DK HORSE and required a separate account and deposit entirely disconnected from the DraftKings one-wallet ecosystem. The projected target was 21 states at launch, with a debut timed ahead of the 149th Kentucky Derby in May 2023. "We are excited to collaborate with Churchill Downs Incorporated, not only to give our existing customers an opportunity to engage with pari-mutuel horse wagering, but also to acquire new customers efficiently during marquee horse racing moments," Robins said. "Due to the structure of the agreement, we expect this new product offering to be immediately profitable."

The rebranded, integrated version now operating as DraftKings Racing in 26 states represents a full departure from that original standalone model, with the remaining DK Horse markets still in line for the same transition.